Cozmix
Visitor centre of Volkssterrenwacht Beisbroek in Bruges, with a planetarium, an observation tower with telescopes and an interactive astronomy exhibition.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
Cozmix is the visitor centre of Volkssterrenwacht Beisbroek vzw on the Beisbroek estate in Bruges. The centre is housed in the castle on the estate and is aimed at anyone who wants to discover the night sky up close, both by day and by night.
A visit is always a total experience with a guide. The planetarium, with a dome-shaped screen of 84 m², shows fulldome films about, among other things, the solar system, the planets, black holes and exoplanets, followed by a live presentation of the current night sky. The guide then takes you to the observation tower, where two large telescopes in the dome show the sun, the moon, planets, nebulae and sometimes distant galaxies.
In the interactive exhibition room you can find out about the birth and life cycle of stars and about our solar system. It is part of the visit and cannot be visited separately. There are also temporary exhibitions, which are free to view. A visit takes about an hour and a half. Cozmix also organises courses, youth activities and events, and works on citizen science, with a weather station, an all-sky camera and radio meteor observation, among other things.
Highlights
- Planetarium with an 84 m² dome screen and fulldome films
- Live presentation of the current night sky
- Observation tower with two large telescopes for the sun, moon, planets and nebulae
- Interactive exhibition on the birth and life cycle of stars and the solar system
- Free telescope observation on Friday evenings (not from 15 May to 15 August)
Permanent exhibition
- Planetarium, observatorium en interactieve sterrenkundetentoonstelling – Fulldome show in the planetarium, live explanation of the night sky, telescopes in the observation tower and an interactive exhibition on stars and the solar system.
- Operated by
- Volkssterrenwacht Beisbroek vzw
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €8 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €6free up to age 2 · Children and young people under 18 pay €6; children under 3 enter free. |
| Groups (15+ people) | €8 per personAdult groups by appointment: €8 per person, with a minimum price of €120 for fewer than 15 people; youth groups: €6 per person, with a minimum price of €90. |
There is a card payment terminal; paying cash or with the Bancontact Pay app is encouraged. Booking is recommended to be sure of a place. The temporary exhibitions can be visited free of charge.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
There is a ramp at the side of the building and a lift to the second floor; the planetarium is reachable via a platform lift. The telescopes in the observation tower can only be reached via a spiral staircase. The website links to accessibility information from Toerisme Vlaanderen.
Kids & families
Great for kids & familiesRecommended for ages 3+
| Time needed | approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 2 |
- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
- Kids’ birthday parties
There are shows for adults, children and families; a minimum age of 3 is recommended for children's shows. Birthday parties and the youth programmes Cozmokidz and Space 4 Kids are available.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Varsenare Marienhovedreef · 20-min walk · 1 km
From Bruges station: bus 30 (Ostend), 311 (Gistel) or 312 (Ostend) to the Varsenare Marienhovedreef stop, then about 1 km (around 20 minutes) on foot along the Beisbroekdreef. Since 6 January 2024 there has been a demand-responsive transport stop, Brugge Bezoekerscentrum Beisbroek (book via Hoppin).
By car
Parking available
Limited number of spaces behind the castle; larger peripheral car parks on the estate (Doornstraat or Diksmuidse Heirweg). When it is busy, Parking Beisbroek (Doornstraat 358–386) is recommended, 500 metres from the visitor centre. Buses have a turning point at the end of the driveway and park in the peripheral car park.
The cycle route network brings you to Cozmix between junction nodes 90 and 61. Groups can book a planetarium bus service from Bruges station.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
There is a toilet, a shop and a bar or café on the estate; a nature centre in the same building can be combined with a visit.
Events & venue rental
- Private parties
Birthday parties and group activities are possible.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 1.5 hrs |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | A visit takes about an hour and a half: a 30-minute planetarium show, a 30-minute live presentation of the current night sky and a 30-minute visit to the observation tower with the telescopes. Afterwards you can explore the exhibition at your leisure. All shows are in Dutch, except for the times marked as French or English. |
